TUCKAHOE, N.Y. -- What began as an effort to unite children of different backgrounds on the basketball court in Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Eastchester, has grown into the successful Children Understanding Cultural Differences program that will be the focus of a fundraiser at the Quarry restaurant on Wednesday, May 21.

The Quarry, which is at 106 Main St., Tuckahoe, and has been one of CUCD's major supporters, will donate 20 percent of the day's proceeds from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. through lunch and dinner. Takeout orders also will be accepted at 337-0311.

"The program has come along way from being the one-time recreational team that just consisted of only Tuckahoe, Bronxville and Eastchester," CUCD founder and coach Donald Gunther said. "We now have kids from Mount St. Michael (Bronx) , New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Rye Neck, Eastchester and Tuckahoe high schools."

Gunther's teenage boys teams have won several local tournaments over the last year and recently qualified to participate in the Gym Rat Tournament in upstate Saratoga and need assistance to fund the trip.

"We are still self-funded and will be having a multiple fundraisers trying to assist our program with the proper exposure for these very talented kids," Gunther said.

More than 450 teams from as far away as Canada and Texas will be playing in the Gym Rat Tournament. CUCD's ninth- and 10th-grade teams have also earned the right to play in a Zero Gravity Finals in Boston in June and in Arkansas July 8-13.

"Our boys will be so thankful if you first can come out on May 21 to the Quarry to support them," Gunther said.

CUCD is a 501c3 nonprofit group.

Those interested in supporting CUCD or attending the Quarry fundraiser may contact Gunther at dmg2963@yahoo.com .